I think my Mom would have liked for us to wax on about how wonderful a mother, wife, daughter, sister, grandmother and great grandmother she was.

Which she was.

I think my Mom would like to remind everyone that she had the smallest waist in Brooklyn.

Which she did.

I think she’d like to say one more time that her wrinkles were caused by steroid medication and not age.

We know that, Mom.

While dementia may have stolen her memory, it didn’t diminish her sense of humor. When shown a picture and asked if she knew which one she was,  Mom said, “Yes, the pretty one.”

But here is what I’d like to say to my mother.

Dear Mom:

It brings us great joy to know that right now you are dancing with Dad in heaven.

It brings us great joy to know that you don’t have a single wrinkle on your face.

It brings us great joy to know you can now see your parents and hear Dad sing.

It brings us great joy to remember your delicious cooking.

It brings us great joy to remember the clothes you sewed with the label “Made with love by Mom.”

It brings us great joy to remember our lives on the road camping across this country.

It brings us great joy to know that you did your best for us at the beginning of our lives and we did our best for you at the end of yours.

It brings us great sorrow to know that this is the end of your time with us.

Take with you our unending love.